friction
Americannoun
-
frictions
plural
-
Physics. surface resistance to relative motion, as of a body sliding or rolling.
-
the rubbing of the surface of one body against that of another.
Rubber on pavement has more friction than steel wheel on steel rail.
-
dissension or conflict between people, nations, etc., because of differing ideas, wishes, etc..
Friction between family members can escalate during a heat wave, as extreme weather can cause tempers to fray.
- Synonyms:
- contention, antagonism, clash, dissidence, discord
noun
-
a resistance encountered when one body moves relative to another body with which it is in contact
-
the act, effect, or an instance of rubbing one object against another
-
disagreement or conflict; discord
-
phonetics the hissing element of a speech sound, such as a fricative
-
perfumed alcohol used on the hair to stimulate the scalp
-
A force on objects or substances in contact with each other that resists motion of the objects or substances relative to each other.
-
◆ Static friction arises between two objects that are not in motion with respect to each other, as for example between a cement block and a wooden floor. It increases to counterbalance forces that would move the objects, up to a certain maximum level of force, at which point the objects will begin moving. It is measured as the maximum force the bodies will sustain before motion occurs.
-
◆ Kinetic friction arises between bodies that are in motion with respect to each other, as for example the force that works against sliding a cement block along a wooden floor. Between two hard surfaces, the kinetic friction is usually somewhat lower than the static friction, meaning that more force is required to set the objects in motion than to keep them in motion.
-
See also drag
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
-
interfrictionnoun
-
nonfrictionnoun
-
self-frictionnoun
-
frictionaladjective
-
frictionlessadjective
-
frictionlesslyadverb
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Etymology
Origin of friction
First recorded in 1575–85; from Latin frictiōn-, stem of frictiō “a rubbing,” from frict(us) “rubbed” (past participle of fricāre “to rub”) + -iō -ion
Explanation
When one thing rubs and grates against another, it causes friction. That can include two clashing personalities or simply a match striking the matchbox and causing a spark. A form of resistance, friction is caused by a chafing movement between two or more objects. In the 18th century, friction meant specifically a “resistance to motion,” but a few decades later grew to also describe disagreement or conflict. The friction between the brakes and your tires helps stop your car when you're going too fast. Not speeding in the first place can help avoid friction between you and the traffic police.
Vocabulary lists containing friction
Word Generation Science - Energy
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
Force and Motion (Mechanics) - Middle School
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
Force and Motion (Mechanics) - Introductory
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
"It's nothing other than two cultures do not align, and that's what's causing a lot of friction," Docherty says.
From BBC ● Aug. 17, 2026
It does this by reducing friction between your cartilage and joints.
From Science Daily ● Aug. 16, 2026
The friction reflects how fundamentally different the two Detroit giants have become as diverging manufacturing footprints and supply chains have led them to seek contrasting favors in Washington.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 15, 2026
“Partnering too closely with a more niche retailer like GameStop could limit the perceived breadth of eBay’s marketplace or create friction with sellers and customers who don’t see much relevance in the partnership.”
From MarketWatch ● Aug. 10, 2026
And if the second plane were horizontal, and friction could be ignored, the ball would roll for ever towards the horizon.
From "The Scientists" by John Gribbin
Sir Keir had wanted to seal a deal to row back many of the post-Brexit frictions on food and farm trade that have impacted the cross-Channel trade flows.
From BBC ● Jun. 23, 2026
The spike marks a bright spot for the Chinese leadership as it struggles to kickstart growth following the pandemic and amid trade frictions with the United States.
From Barron's ● Jun. 9, 2026
The frictions also played out on the ground in Beijing as US and Chinese officials appeared to be having their own shadow superpower battle.
From Barron's ● May 15, 2026
It expects global trade growth to slow amid geopolitical frictions and China-U.S. trade tensions.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Mar. 19, 2026
Through a posting on a school librarians’ Web site she sought out family reunions, where she imagined she would encounter interesting frictions between prosperous siblings and relatives still mired at the bottom.
From "Class Matters" by The New York Times
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
